Ash trays for motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

An ash-tray, for a motor vehicle, is recessed in the dashboard of the vehicle and comprises a pivotal receptacle and a rigid, sliding, lid for closing the receptacle. Both when the receptacle is open or closed, substantially no part of the ash-tray protrudes beyond the surface of the dashboard.

United States Patent [1 1 Cadiou ASH TRAYS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES [75]Inventor:

[73] Assignee: S.A. Automobiles Citroen, Paris,

Jean Cadiou, Paris, France 7/1940 Gelardi 131/241 X 4/1963 Gettel312/348 X France Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Att0rneyArno1dRobinson [22] Filed: July 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 163,026

[3 0] Foreign Application Priority Data 7 i [57] ABSTRACT July 15, 1970France "702603 8- An ash-tray, for a motor vehicle, is recessed in thedashboard of the vehicle and comprises a pivotal recep- [52] US. Cl.312/245 mole and a rigid, Sliding lid for closing the receptacle [51]Int. Cl. A47b 67/02, A47f 5/08 Both when the receptacle is open orclosed Substam [58] Field of Search 312/242, 245, 246, tially no part ofthe ashtray protrudes beyond the Sub 312/248, 270, 211, 251, 212, 297;206/19.5 face of the dashboard C; 220/41 [56] References Cited 8 Claims,5 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,097,480 11/1937 Visser 312/242X l S&&\\w

PATENTEL M3 1 I975 SHEET 1 BF 2 jwwi ASH TRAYS FOR MOTOR VEHICLESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to a receptacle such as an ash-tray,fitted with a lid, which is recessed into a surface such as, forexample, the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

In one form of hitherto proposed ash-tray for a motor vehicle, theash-tray is mounted so as to tip in relation to its support and the lidof the ash-tray protrudes from the ash-tray casing, which might bedangerous in the event of an accident.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ash-tray or otherreceptacle having substantially no protruding parts, even when the lidis open.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided an assembly comprising a receptacle, a rigid sliding lidselectively closing and opening the receptacle, means defining asurface, having an opening therein, the receptacle being accommodated inthe said opening, and means mounting the receptacle and lid for tiltingmovement relative to the surface about an axis extending transversely tothe direction of sliding of the lid, the lid, when closed, lyingsubstantially in the plane of the surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention willnow be described, by way of example only, with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of a dashboard into which anash-tray in accordance with the invention is recessed;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-section of one half of the ash-tray shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the ash-tray with a lid of theash-tray closed;

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3, but showing the lid partly open;and

FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG. 3, but showing the lid fully open.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The ash-tray, illustrated in thedrawings, is recessed into the dashboard lof a motor car and comprises amounting 2, held in place around an opening 3 in the dashboard l byflanges 2a, below the dashboard l. A receptacle 4 is pivoted in themounting 2, and a rigid lid 5 slides in the receptacle 4 in a directionat right angles to the pivotal axis of the receptacle 4.

The receptacle 4 has a projection 6, which engages in a recess 7 in themounting 2 and acts as a knife-edge pivot. Pivotal or tipping movementof the receptacle 4 is limited in one direction by a projection 8, onthe lid 5, which bears against the dashboard l, and in the otherdirection either by a stop or by the shape of the mounting itself, as isthe case in the embodiment illustrated. When the projection 8 is incontact with the dashboard I, the lid 5 lies within the plane of thedashboard, as

shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. A stop 9 forming part of the mounting, preventsthe receptacle 4 from sliding down when in the inclined position.

The receptacle 4 has another projection 10, which engages under a stop11, spring-mounted in the mounting 2, when the projection 8 is incontact with the mounting, that is to say when the ash-tray lies withinthe plane of the dashboard (FIGS. 1 and 3).

The lid 5 slides in the receptacle 4, guided by runners 12 (FIG. 2). Ator adjacent the end of the lid 5, on its inner face, is a stop 13, whichbears against one end wall of the receptacle 4 when the lid 5 is closed.The lid 5 also carries an intermediate stop 14, formed from a resilientmaterial, in the path of movement of which lies two projecting stops 15aand 15b, forming part of a support 16 for partly smoked cigarettes, thesupport 16 being fixed to the receptacle 4. The stop 14 lies in contactwith the stop 15a when the lid is closed (FIG. 3), and bears against theother end wall of the receptacle 4 when the lid is fully open (FIG. 5).

When the ash-tray is closed, the receptacle 4 is restrained againstpivotal movement in one direction by the projection 10, which engagesthe stop 1 l, and in the other direction by the projection 8, whichbears against the dashboard l; movement of the lid 5, is prevented bythe stop 13, in contact with one end wall of the receptacle, and by thestop 14, in contact with the stop 15a. In this position, the lid 5 liesin the plane of the dashboard 1.

To open the ash-tray, the lid 5 is pressed in the direction indicated byarrow 17 in FIG. 3 so that the stop 11 is moved inwardly by theprojection 10, thus allowing the receptacle 4 to tip to the positionshown in FIG. 4. This frees the lid 5, which can be slid open in thedirection of arrow 18 in FIG. 4 the stop 14 riding over the stop 15a.

In the embodiment shown, the lid 5 can be held in a partly openposition, with the stop 14 in contact with the stop 15b (FIG. 4), or inan almost fully open position, in which the stop 14 bears against theend wall of the receptacle 4 (FIG. 5).

It will be observed that the lid, when open, lies back beneath thedashboard 1 and is therefore not dangerous. Moreover, as the ash-trayslopes, the ash gravitates to a zone which is covered when the lid is inthe partly open position (FIG. 4); there is thus no risk of its beingblown about.

When the receptacle is in the tilted position shown in FIG. 4, but withthe lid closed. it can be readily removed from the mounting 2 if graspedby the portion projecting above the dashboard l and can then be emptiedand cleaned.

In the ash-tray particularly described, since the lid lies in the planeof the dashboard when closed, the receptacle is out of sight and doesnot alter the general line of the dashboard; in the event of anaccident, it cannot cause injury. When the receptacle is open the lid ishoused behind the dashboard and the receptacle again cannot cause injuryin the event of an accident.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising a receptacle;

a lid in sliding engagement with said receptacle;

means defining a surface having an opening therein,

said receptacle being accommodated in said opening on one side of saidsurface;

mounting means with which said receptacle is in pivotal engagement fortilting movement between first and second positions, said lid beingretained in a closed position by an edge of said opening in said surfacewhen said receptacle is in said first position, and said lid clearingsaid edge and being slidable to an open position when said receptacle isin said second position.

2. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said receptacle comprises aprojection which is in pivotal engagement with said mounting means.

3. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said mounting meanscomprises a recess in which said receptacle projection is received.

4. An assembly according to claim [2 further comprising spring-biasedstop means for retaining said receptacle in said first position in whichthe closed lid lies substantially in the plane of said surface.

5. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said receptacle is anash-tray, and further comprises support means for partially smokedcigarettes, including at least one stop means, and said lid includesstop means, said lid stop means cooperating with said support stop meansto hold said lid in a predetermined position relative to saidreceptacle.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said lid stop means isresilient.

7. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said support means includestwo stop means, one of said support stop means cooperating with said lidstop means to hold said lid in its closed position, and the other ofsaid support stop means cooperating with said lid stop means to holdsaid lid in a partially open position.

8. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said lid includes stop meansabutting the receptacle when said lid is fully open.

1. An assembly comprising a receptacle; a lid in sliding engagement withsaid receptacle; means defining a surface having an opening therein,said receptacle being accommodated in said opening on one side of saidsurface; mounting means with which said receptacle is in pivotalengagement for tilting movement between first and second positions, saidlid being retained in a closed position by an edge of said opening insaid surface when said receptacle is in said first position, and saidlid clearing said edge and being slidable to an open position when saidreceptacle is in said second position.
 2. An assembly according to claim2 wherein said receptacle comprises a projection which is in pivotalengagement with said mounting means.
 3. An assembly according to claim 3wherein said mounting means comprises a recess in which said receptacleprojection is received.
 4. An assembly according to claim 12 furthercomprising spring-biased stop means for retaining said receptacle insaid first position in which the closed lid lies substantially in theplane of said surface.
 5. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein saidreceptacle is an ash-tray, and further comprises support means forpartially smoked cigarettes, including at least one stop meAns, and saidlid includes stop means, said lid stop means cooperating with saidsupport stop means to hold said lid in a predetermined position relativeto said receptacle.
 6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said lidstop means is resilient.
 7. An assembly according to claim 5 whereinsaid support means includes two stop means, one of said support stopmeans cooperating with said lid stop means to hold said lid in itsclosed position, and the other of said support stop means cooperatingwith said lid stop means to hold said lid in a partially open position.8. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said lid includes stop meansabutting the receptacle when said lid is fully open.